Jackson Hoping This Camp with Razorbacks Will be Last One in College

Utah transfer ready for what he hopes is final fall practice

Utah Utes running back Ja'Quinden Jackson before transferring to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks. / Steph Chambers/GettyImages

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — New Arkansas Razorbacks running back Ja'Quinden Jackson is ready to be done with fall camps despite it being spring. He knows he's going to face temperatures considerably hotter than he's seeing now in Northwest Arkansas when August rolls around.

It's hot in his hometown of Duncanville, Texas, too. Jackson has seen it before and doesn't sound like he's anxious for it again after the cooler temps in Utah.

"I pray to God it is [my final August practices]," Jackson said after Tuesday morning's workout where temperatures were in the 30's until early afternoon. "Can't do another fall camp."

He originally signed with Texas in the 2020 class, then transferred to Utah. He was the No. 3-ranked dual-threat quarterback prospect in that class, but ended up moving to running back. It's since been a long road with a lot of curves.

"Like my mama told me, everybody’s journey is different," Jackson said. "Like, some people will be three and done, some people will be five, six. So I’m just taking the journey and staying on the path that God wanted me to be on. I’m just taking it day-by-day and step-by-step. The journey has been fun. I’ve met plenty of great guys and we’ve built friendships, brotherhood."

After having a solid 2022 season at running back (531 yds, 6.8 avg), he improved to 797 rushing yards while averaging 4.9 yards a carry scoring four touchdowns, all while battling through an ankle injury that got worse throughout last season.

"It was a low ankle sprain, then it went to my tendon in my foot," Jackson said about the injury before the season started. "My tendon in my foot kind of came off the bone. It was something that I really couldn’t do. Like, I had to let it heal. That’s why last year I didn’t play the Oregon State game because it got too bad. I couldn’t walk. Everybody had their opinion about me, but they don’t really know what goes on.

"A lot of people don’t know that I was hurt all last year. When I went into the portal, there were a whole lot of jokes. ‘Oh, he’s got paper ankles,’ This and that. It was funny. I laughed at it, but people talk about it from the outside looking in. They don’t really know what I had to go through last season for me to get those 700 yards and score touchdowns. It was a struggle every week battling with this injury."

In Tuesday's practice, he was running with the first-team offense when they came out. Whether he can hold onto the top spot during the summer heat of fall camp remains to be seen. There's plenty of competition at the running back position.

"It’s a lot of talent in that room," Jackson said. "Each and every one of those guys can run the ball, catch the ball. It helps me put my best foot forward every day."

Someone needs to step up in the running back room to emerge as a playmaker. For a Razorbacks' offense still needing big-time answers, it's one of the biggest this spring. That may continue right into those August practices Jackson is ready to see come to an end.

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(Lance King / GettyImages)